Improvement in cigar-boxes



W. ELLIS.

Cigar Box.

Patented JuIy 20,1875.

WITNESSES "5m mum-mammal WJ-SHINGTON. n c.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS pun-r YVILLIAM ELLIS, OF COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH HIS RIGHT TO ILLIAM G. CASE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CiGAR-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. Hfififi ll, dated July 20, 1875; application filed May 15, 1875.

To all whom t'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM ELLIS, of Columbia, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Cigar-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a longitudinal section of my cigar-box, and Fig. 2 is a detail view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view, part sectional, and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view.

My invention relates to that class of cigarboxes in which provision is made for puncturing the revenue-stamp by the cigar while in process of removal, and is designed as an improvement upon the devices shown in my application for a patent filed October 9, 1874.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a series of removable racks, to which are attached spurs or pins, which said spurs pass through the side of the box and, respectively, into the square end of a cigar, as hereinafter described. It also consists in constructing slots in the wall of the box, and adapting thereto the spurs of the removable rack by twisting, in the manner hereinafter mentioned, to the end that the rack and spurs may be held securely in position by the aid of the spurs only.

The Fig. 2 of the drawings represents the front side of my cigar-box perforated, as described, and'for the purpose set forth in my application filed October 9, 187 4, and the Fig. 1 represents the rear side of my box as improved. It is formed in the usual manner of wood, paper, or metal, and is perforated to receive the spurs c, hereinafter described.

The perforations in the rear side of my box are, preferably, made in parallel lines or rows,

- and in number should correspond to the number of cigars the box is adapted to holde. g., for a box adapted to hold one hundred cigars there should be one hundred perforations. I have marked these perforations a on the drawings.

The letter B represents a rack or bar, to

one of these racks for each longitudinal row.

of perforations a, and, when on duty, secure it by buttonsf, working in slots n, or by other equivalent means.

The spurs c are sometimes formed as ordinary pins, passing through the rack B, but I prefer to construct them with a spiral twist, as'shown in the detail, Fig. 4. WVhenever the spiral form of the spurs is employed I enlarge the openings in the side of the box longitudinally, or otherwise, so as to form slots g into which the spurs are forced, thereby securing the rack in position without the aid of buttons; and, furthermore, providing additional means for preventing a cigar from being removed without puncturing the government stamp. These spiral pins are arranged in the box in the manner fully illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The circular part of the perforation in the wall of the box should, preferably, be opposite the center of the square end of the cigar, and the side-slot formed to the right thereof, as shown.

By these means it is found nearly or altogether impossible to remove a cigar without puncturing the government stamp, which is attachedto the front side of the box, as described in my said pending application, as will be apparent from the construction and the well-known method of packing cigars in a box.

I usually construct my boxes, and especially deep ones, with a lid both at top and bottom, which lids are hinged as represented in Fig. 1. This is done to facilitate the removal of cigars from the box, and enable the purchaser to select from either side at will.

It is obvious that the holding-spurs c are intended to pass through the wall of the box and into the square end 'of the cigars, while the pointed ends thereof rest in the perforations o formed in the front wall of the box.

For a more perfect understanding of this specification I have marked the coiled or spiral pins with the letter 0.

The features shown in the drawings, which are reproduced from my said application of October 9, 1874, consist in the perforated sides, and removable plate working therein, together with arevcnue-stamp, andIdo not claim these 3. In a cigarbox, provided with slots or features in this application. perforations, racks B carrying spurs, slot n, WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure and button f,as and for the purpose set forth. by Letters Patent, is In testimony that I claim the above I have 1. A cigar-box provided with racks B, perhereunto subscribed my name in the presence foratlons a, and spurs c, as and for the purof two witnesses.

pose set forth. WILLIAM ELLIS.

2. A cigar-box provided with the slots y, Witnesses: racks B, and coiled spurs c, as and for the GEORGE E. UPHAM,

purpose set forth. J 0s. B. LOOMIS. 

